Starter transmission



March 3, 1931. H. R. DAVIES 1,795,073

' STARTER TRANSMI'SSION Original Fi led Oct. 21. 12520 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z I '1 i:

mmvr op. HenryRDawes ATTORNEY March 3, 1931. H. R. DAVIES I STARTER TRANSMISSION Original Filed Oct. 21. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NV m m R m, e H S A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNETEO PATENT OFFICE HENRY B1. DAVIES, OF VALLEY COTTAGE, NEXV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INDUSTRIAL RE- SEARCH CORPORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE STARTER TRANSMISSION Application filed tletober 21, 1920, Serial No. 418,547. Renewed November 10, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in the driving mechanism between a starting motor-and an engine and has for its main object the provision of an intermediate wheel in such mechanism which is swung into and out of engagement with another wheel by means of an eccentric member.

Another object is to provide that this intermediate wheel be geared to the motor at all times by means of an internal gear wheel.

Another object is to provide that the said intermediate wheel be shifted into engagement with another wheel by the torque of the motor.

Another object is to provide that the said intermediate wheel travel through only a small are to engage and disengage another wheel to establish driving connection between I the motor and engine.

Other objects and those relating to simplicity of construction and economies of manufacture will become apparent as I proceed lar parts throughout the several views of the gear l keyed thereto. beyond the drawings.

In Figures I, II, and III, 1 represents a starting motor which is rigidly mounted upon the casing of the engine 2 in any suitable manner. The motor shaft 3 has an internal The shaft 3 projects gear at and is supported at its end in an outer bearing 5 which is integral with or rigidly mounted upon the motor casing (see Figure II). Loosely mounted upon the shaft 3 between the gear l and bearing 5 is an eccentric sleeve 6 and rotatably mounted upon this eccentric sleeve 6 is a toothed gear 7 which meshes with the internal gear i and is driven thereby. Gear 7 is long enough to extend beyond the internal gear 4; and is adapted to be swung by means of the eccentric G into engagement with a gear 8 which drives the engine and is preferably formed as the flywheel of the engine as shown in Figure I. The eccentric 6 is normally held in the position shown in Figure I by some yieldable means such as the weak spring 9, one end of which is fastened to a stationary part and the other end" to the eccentric sleeve 6 as shown.

Now in the operation of the device, the motor is started by making connection with a source of current as the battery 15 by closing the switch 16. The rotation of the internal gear i and the shaft 3 in the direction shown by the arrow rotates the gear 7 and eccentric sleeve 6 together against the small opposition of the spring 9 until gear 7 engages the flywheel 8. A rigid stop 11 engages a lug 10 on the eccentric sleeve when gears 7 and 8 have become proper y meshed and prevents further rotation of the eccentric sleeve. The motor gear l will new drive the flywheel 8 through the gear 7 which runs upon the eccentric 6.

hen the engine starts the flywheel 8 will overrun the motor, thus causing the gear '1' to overrun gear a. This will cause the gear I to disengage itself from flywheel 8 and to revolve the eccentric sleeve 6 in the direction opposite its rotation to the position shown in Figure II. This disengagement is aided slightly by the coil spring 9. The switch 16 is now opened to stop the motor and the parts remain in this position all ready for the next starting operation. Instead of a coil spring 9, which acts at all times, there may be substituted a spring snap to engage the lug 10 to hold it in the position shown in Figure II against accidental engagement of gears Y and 8, but will not appreciably oppose the engagement of gears '4 and 8 when the motor is started. Of course any other yieldable detent means may be employed which will oppose the swing of the eccentric sleeve 6 for only a short distance and thereafter allow free movement for the engagement of gears 7 and 8.

IV is in other against the flywheel which wheels 20 and 21 engage each other cifically as follows.

modification of Figure IV, a friction is integral with, or rigidly secured erably extends throughout the length of the friction wheelQO and gear 4". No stop to imit the swing of the eccentric sleeve is 118C95- sary or desired, as the swinging movementis "'mited by the friction wheel 20 pressing 21. Ihepressure with 'e made as reat desirable makin :1 .Y n

ma the angle A between the the center the motor shaft to the centers of the flywheel and the eccentric sleeve 6 re? spectivel y, smaller than that shown in Figure III. The degree of pressure required depends u; on the lrind of friction surfaceson wheels 20 and 21 but ordinarily this angle A should be not greater than degrees. The operation of the modification of Figure respects like that'of Figure I, II, and III. I

The angle A for the modification of Figures LII, and III may be about 9 0 degrees if it is desired that the ear 7 swin throu h only a very small arc before'engaging the wheel 8, or it may be-any smaller value down to zero degrees when it is desired that gear 7 swing through a large are before being properly meshed with the, wheel 8.

:It should be understood that the term gear in the claims hereinbelow inserted 1s used generally to 1nd1cate power illiiIlSHllS- sion wheel which may or may not have gear teeth adapted to mesh with other gear teeth, or which may be a flat friction surface as illustrated, for instance, in Figure IV between the engine flywheel 21 and the member 20.

, While I have described in more or less detail certain particular embodiments of my invention I do not wish-to be limited thereto as,

many modifications will be obvious to those.

skilled in the art without departing from the r scope of my invention; Therefore Iw1sh to claim my invention broadly as well as spe- What I claim is:

1. In a starter drive, in combination, an engine shaft, a wheel thereon, a motor having a shaft, aninternal gear wheel secured on said. mot-or shaft,a third wheel aetuated'bytheinternal gear wheel to move bodily relative to said motor shaft into engagement with said st wheel, and movable supporting means for said third wheel. 2. In a starter drive, in combination, an engine shaft, a wheel "thereon, a motor having a shaft, an internal gear wheel'secured on said motor shaft, a third wheel geared to the motor and actuated'by the internalgear wheel to move bodily relative to said motor shaft into engagement with said first wheel and lines drawn from r movable supporting means for said third wheel.

3. In a starter drive, in combination, an en gine shaft, a wheel thereon, a motor having a shaft, an internal gear wheel on said motor shaft, a third wheel geared to said internal gear wheel and actuated by the internal gear wheel to move bodily relative to said motor shaft into engagement with said'first wheel, mova le supporting means for said third wheel, and means for facilitating disengage ment of the third wheel.

4. In a starter drive, in combination, an engine shaft, a wheel thereon, a starting motor having a shaft, an internal gear wheel on said motor shaft, an eccentric member on said motor shaft, and third wheel rotatably mounted andbodily movable thereupon into engagement with said first wheel, said third wheel being actuated by the internal gear wheel.

5. In a starter drive, in combination, an engine shaft, a wheel thereon, a starting motor having a shaft, an internal gearowheel on said motor shaft, an eccentric member onv said motor shaft, and a third wheel geared to the motor and mounted on said eccentric member and actuated by said internal gear wheel to move into engagement with said first wheel.

6. In a starter drive, in combination, an engine shaft, a wheel thereon, a starting motor having a shaft, an internal gear wheel on said motor shaft, an eccentric member loose on said motor shaft, and a third wheel adapted to be actuated by said internal gearwheel to move into engagement with said first wheel.

7. In a drive mechanism, the combination shaft, an internal ear wheel securedto said motor shaft, third wheel, movablesupporting means mounted on the motor shaft for said third wheel, said internal gear wheel being adapted to move said third wheelbodily relative to said motor shaft into engagement with said first wheel.

9. In a drive mechanism, the combination of a driven shaft, a gear mounted thereon, a

drive shaft having an internal gear mounted thereon, a third gear eccentrically mounted on said drive shaft and in engagement with said drive shaft gear adapted to be moved by the movement ofsaid internal gear into engagement with said driven shaft gear; and means for facilitating disengagement of said third gear anddriven' shaft gear.

10. In drive mechanisnn the combination ofa drive shaft, an internal gear secured to said drive shaft, another gear mounted on said drive shaft and in engagement with said internal gear, said second gear being eccentrically mounted relative to the drive shaft whereby rotation of the internal gear carries the second gear bodily into engagement with the member to be driven, and means tending normally to hold the second gear in disengaged position relative to the driven member.

11; In drive mechanism, the combination of a driven shaft, a gear mounted thereon, a second shaft, an internal gear secured to the second shaft, a third gear adapted to be moved by said internal gear bodily into engagement with said first gear, means independent of said third gear for positively limiting the engaging movement of the third gear with the first gear, and means for facilitating disengagement of the third and first gears.

12. In a starter drive, in combination a driven gear wheel; a driving gear therefor; a motor having a shaft; an eccentric carried by said shaft and supporting said driving gear;

' a gear fixed to said motor shaft and adapted for enmeshment with said driving gear for establishing an operative driving connection between said motor shaft and said driving gear.

13. In a starter drive, in combination a driven member; a driving gear; a motor having a shaft; an eccentric mounted upon said shafts and supporting said driving gear; a second gear fixed to said motor shaft adapted to actuate said driving gear, the parts being so arranged that initial movement of the second gear operates to place said driving gear into engagement with said driven member.

14. In a starter drive, in combination a driven member; a driving gear; a motor having a shaft; an eccentric mounted upon said shaft and supporting said driving gear; a second gear fixed to said motor shaft adapted to actuate said driving gear, the parts being so arranged that initial movement of the second gear operates to place said driving gear into engagement with said driven member; and means for limiting a movement of said driving gear.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

' HENRY R. DAVIES.

GERTIFIGATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,795,078. Granted March 3, 1.931, to

HENRY R. DAVIES.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 40, claim 14, for the words "mounted upon" read carried by; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of April, A. D. 1931..

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

